みなさん、こんにちは。
今回は前回に引き続き、米国カリフォルニア州にあるサミュエルメリット大学（SMU）の研修生受け入れ報告（第２弾）として、スペシャルインタビューをお届けします。
研修生の受け入れは今年で３年目、10名の看護学生と教員2名をお迎えして、10日間の日程で行いました（2017年6月3日～12日）。学内での講義、演習に加え、病院見学、訪問看護、ホームステイも体験しています。滞在中は様々なプログラムが組まれ、学生との交流機会が多いのも特徴です。
（写真：入試広報センターより）
今回インタビューに協力してくれたのは、ルイーズ（Louise）さん、リア（Lea）さんです。
メールでのインタビューにも関わらず、とても丁寧に答えてくださいました。日本語（一部要約）でお届けしますので、興味のある方は是非英語の原文も読んでみてください。記事の最後に掲載します。
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まずは、お二人のプロフィールから。
ルイーズさん：
既卒者を対象とする1年間の看護コース（ABSN）に在籍している看護学生さんです。大学時代は美術を専攻、ファッションとアートをこよなく愛する方です。看護師を志望する前はLevi’sで7年間勤務していました。ショーウィンドウのディスプレイで、マネキンのスタイリングなどを担当していたそうです。
看護を志すきっかけは、4階建ての屋根から落ち、2か月入院する程の大怪我を負った事なのだそうです。足、足首、股関節、脊柱の手術を何度も受け、8ヶ月間のリハビリを強いられました。弱さや恐怖を味わいながらも、次第に生命に対する強い感謝の念を抱くようになったルイーズさん。入院中に受けた医師と看護師の優れたケアに感激し、自分も看護師になり患者に寄り添いたいと思うようになったそうです。専門基礎科目などを2年間受講した後、SMUに入学しました。
リアさん：
同じく、ABSNに在籍する学生さんです。大学時代の専攻は人体生理学でした。医療系の仕事に就きたいという気持ちはありましたが、元々は理学療法士を目指していました。しかし、100時間の見学を経て、もっと全体的な人のケアに興味を持つようになりました。股関節や膝関節だけではなく、人全体を対象にできるのが看護だと思い、志望するに至りました。
※お二人は、来日する1週間前にこのABSNプログラムを終了しています。
それでは早速、インタビューの内容をご紹介します！
看護の中で、興味のある分野は何ですか？
ルイーズさん：
私は整形外科看護や手術室の看護に興味があります。なぜなら、私は患者として整形外科病棟に入院しておりましたし、非常に多くの手術を経験したからです。
リアさん：
私が最も興味を持っているのは救急医療の看護、ICUのケアです。クリティカルケアを必要とする患者さんと、その病状の複雑さに興味があります。ICUの看護師になるためには、高い批判的思考とアセスメント技術が必要です。テレメトリー（心電図等の遠隔測定方式）のデータを解釈する事に興味があります。
研修中で最も楽しかった／学んだことは何ですか？
ルイーズさん：
研修プログラムで驚いたのは、高齢者を対象としたヘルスケアが米国と比べて非常に優れている事です。人々が助け合う介護保険制度は素晴らしく、事実上、国民全てが医療費を支払うことができるのは驚くべきことです。看護師が定期的に家庭を訪問し、毎日の投薬や入浴の介助が可能だと知り、素晴らしい制度だと思いました。私の祖母は、晩年高額な医療費の負担に苦しみました。もしも米国にも日本のような医療制度が整っていたら、祖母の晩年は経済的な困難が少なく、寿命も生活の質も向上していたのではないのかと思います。
また、研修中で最も楽しかったのは、訪問看護への同行とホームステイの経験でした。ホストファミリーの学生さんはとても親切にしてくださり、共に素晴らしい時間を過ごしました。とても感謝しています。
リアさん：
研修で最も気に入ったプログラムは、訪問看護の同行です。95歳の利用者さんのお宅に訪問させていただきました。彼女は本当に活き活きとしていて、75歳ぐらいかと思うほどでした。米国では訪問看護はあまり一般的ではありませんので、高齢の患者さんが居心地の良い家庭環境でケアを受けることができるのは素晴らしい事だと思います。自営でお茶の生産から加工、販売までを営んでいるお宅で、私たちにお茶まで出してくださいました。幸せで長生きする秘訣は、よく食べ、友人や家族との付き合いを楽しむことだそうです。私はこの思い出を大切にしたいと思います。
日本、または浜松での滞在中で一番驚いたのは何ですか？
ルイーズさん：
リアさん：
人々が親切で礼儀正しく、友好的、他人を思いやり、誰もが歓迎してくれたことに驚きました。
全ての公共交通機関や環境（バス、電車、道路など）が、とてもきれいで驚きました。ゴミを捨てようと思っても、ゴミ箱がなかなか見当たらない事にも驚きました。米国ではあらゆるところにゴミ箱が置いてありますが、それでもゴミが落ちていることがあります。
私たちSMUを訪ねる際には、どんな事がお勧めですか？
ルイーズさん：
リアさん：
サンフランシスコ、カリフォルニア州には、楽しい事、有名な観光地が本当に沢山あります！こちらに来ることがあったら、皆さんをご案内したいと思います。
紹介しきれないので、お二人からのお勧めはこちら（詳しくは原文を読んでね）：
- カリフォルニア・アカデミー・オブ・サイエンス
- ゴールデン・ゲート・ブリッジ
- カリフォルニアアシカ・ウォッチング
- ケーブルカー体験
- ユニオンスクウェアで買い物
- アルカトラズ島
- ピア39
- レイクタホ（タホ湖）：シエラネバタ山中にある美しいリゾート地。夏も冬もおすすめ。
余暇はどんなことをして過ごしますか？
ルイーズさん：
家族や友人と過ごす時間が好きです。工芸をしたり、絵画、洋裁も楽しんでいます。
リアさん：
アウトドアが好きです！ハイキング、バックパッキング、ロッククライミング、自転車などが好きです。ヨガや瞑想、ダンスも好きです。看護コースを終了し、ようやく好きな事をする時間ができたことを嬉しく思います。在学中は勉学で忙しく、自分の時間はほとんどありませんでした。みなさんも同じように忙しい毎日を送っているのではないでしょうか。
その他のコメント.
ルイーズさん：
私はこの研修でできた友人や思い出に生涯感謝することでしょう。多くの事を学び、広い視野で物事を理解できるようになりました。日本での、聖隷での研修のおかげで、より良い看護師になれると感じます。
リアさん：
研修プログラムを終えた後、実は私たちは京都と東京へ旅行に行きました。もっと日本を知る機会になり、とてもよい経験ができました。京都では温泉旅館に泊まり、多くのお寺、神社を見学しました。金閣寺、霊山観音、伏見稲荷神社が特に気に入りました。東京ではスカイツリーにも上りました。竹下通りも歩きましたよ。
聖隷の看護学生さん、または高校生の皆さんにメッセージをお願いします。
ルイーズさん：
機会があれば、是非米国に来てサミュエル・メリット大学を訪問してください。海外研修は素晴らしい経験でした。私がオススメしたアクティビティにも是非チャレンジして、サンフランシスコを満喫して欲しいと思います。今回の経験は、私にとって大変意味深いものであり、これまでの人生最高の旅でした。私が体験したように、是非皆さんも米国に来て交流プログラムに参加してください！
リアさん：
看護師の仕事を志すのは、素晴らしい事だと思います。この分野に興味を持っている皆さんは、とても思いやりのある学生さんだと思います。意見を交換したり、異なる文化の視点から話し合うことができたのはとても貴重な体験でした。私たちは（米国と日本で）異なる点があるかもしれませんが、それよりずっと共通点の方が多いという事に気付いたのが、今回の研修を通して一番の学びでした。
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インタビューは以上です。
最後まで読んでくださり、ありがとうございます。
お二人からは、関わってくださった全ての学生さん、教員、関連施設の職員の皆さんに深い感謝の気持ちをお預かりしております。この場を借りて、お礼申し上げます。
ありがとうございました。
海外研修、学内での国際交流に少しでも興味を持った方、是非私たちと一緒に参加しませんか。ご質問、ご相談などは、国際交流センター、または国際交流担当の教員までお気軽にお声かけください。
看護学部（英語担当）A.
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以下にインタビューの原文を掲載します。
Louiseさん
1. You are an ABSN student, aren't you? What made you change your career path and choose to become a nurse?
Yes, I am an ABSN student. My first degree was in Art. I worked in the fashion industry for 7 years for Levi’s. I used to style and dress the mannequins for window displays. I have always loved fashion and art.
I changed my career path after I was involved in a bad accident when I fell from a four-story rooftop. I broke multiple bones and was hospitalized for two months undergoing multiple surgeries on my foot, ankle, legs, hips and spine and 8 months of extensive physical therapy. My recovery brought out feelings of extreme vulnerability and fear. Through the experience, I have come to develop an even deeper appreciation for life and am forever grateful for all the excellent care I received from doctors and nurses during my hospitalization.
My experience as a patient allowed me to know first-hand the impact a great nurse can have on their patients, inspiring me to pursue nursing again so that I can be present for my patients in the same way.
Once I was able to walk again, I attended classes for two years to complete my prerequisite classes. In 2016, I was accepted to Samuel Merritt University’s ABSN program, and I graduated about a week before my trip to Japan.
2．What is the area of your interest in nursing? And why?
I am interested in orthopedics nursing or a nurse in the operating room. I am interested in these areas because while I was a patient in the hospital I was hospitalized in an orthopedic unit and I underwent so many surgeries.
3. What did you enjoy/learn most during the study program? And why?
During the study program in Japan, I was amazed to learn about how much better the healthcare for the elderly is in Japan than in the United States. I admire the fact that there is long-term care insurance, and that people really take care of one another. It is amazing to me that virtually everyone can afford healthcare. I am so impressed to learn that nurses can regularly visit the home, help with daily medication, and bathing assistance.
I was very close to my Grandmother, who passed away while I was in the ABSN program. During her last years of life, she had to pay so much of her own money just to get the healthcare, equipment, and services that she needed to stay alive. If the United States had a healthcare system more like Japan’s I believe my Grandmother’s last years of life would have been less financially stressful for her, and more importantly, her years and quality of life may have been extended as well.
My two most enjoyable experiences were the home visit and also my stay with my host, Yuki. We had such an amazing time together and she was so kind. Despite the language barrier we were able to connect and became close friends quickly. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to meet and spend time with her.
4. What surprised you most during the stay in Japan or Hamamatsu?
I was most surprised by how clean everything is in public (buses, trains, streets, etc.) and also how difficult it is to find a garbage can to throw away your trash. I was also surprised by how nice, polite, and welcoming everyone was.
5. What do you recommend we do when we visit your place?
There is so much to do in the city of San Francisco. If you came to San Francisco, I would recommend that you do some of the following:
a) Visit California Academy of a Sciences
San Francisco is also home to the California Academy of Science- the only place on the planet with an aquarium, a planetarium, a natural history museum, and a four-story rainforest all under one roof. It is best to go Thursday evenings for “Nightlife” where visitors explore a unique theme each week and after-hours access to all academy exhibits.
b) Walk Over the Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge spans 2.7-kilomerers. I have only walked it once, but if you come visit, I would love to walk it with any of you. :-) The Golden Gate Bridge is said to be one of the most photographed landmarks on Earth.
c) See the Sea Lions
Fisherman’s Warf is also home to Pier 39, a waterfront marketplace that is one of the city’s most popular attractions. A community of California sea lions has decided to make Pier 39 their home. From there it’s a short walk to Ripley’s Believe It or Not, arcades, restaurants, street performers, and crab vendors selling fresh crab and shrimp cocktails.
d) Ride a Cable Car
Cable cars have been transporting people around San Francisco since the late 19th century. The cars run on tracks and are moved by an underground cable on three routes. Their familiar bells can be heard ringing from blocks away. Each one-way ride will provide beautiful views of the city’s hills and can also transport you from downtown SF to fisherman’s Warf and Back. I have ridden the cable cars many times.
e) Shop in Union Square
Union Square is the place to go if you are into shopping or fashion. Major department stores and designer boutiques line streets like Post, Sutter, Geary, Grant, Stockton and Powell. The Westfield shopping center is a huge mall with plenty of shops as well. This is where I used to work in Fashion, so if you come, I would love to show you around.
f) Visit Alcatraz
Alcatraz, a former prison, is located on an island of the same name in the middle of San Francisco Bay. Some of the United States’ most notorious criminals were incarcerated there. A visit to Alcatraz today is fascinating. Cell-house tours are available, allowing visitors to learn about the prison as they explore the buildings and grounds. I have gone here once, on a night tour, and it was very interesting and exciting. They take a boat out at night to the island and it is dark and spooky.
Let me know if you make it to San Francisco. I would love to show you guys around!
6. What do you like to do for fun?
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I also enjoy making crafts, painting, and sewing.
7. (Any other comments? If any ...）
I am forever grateful for the friends and memories I made on this trip. I learned so much and was able to understand things from a broader perspective and I feel that I will become a better nurse because of my trip to Japan and to your school.
8. Can you give a message to SCU students or future ones?
If given the opportunity I would recommend coming to the United States and visiting Samuel Merritt University. Traveling abroad has been such an amazing experience for me. I would also recommend you explore San Francisco and some of the things to do that I mentioned above.
This experience I had in Japan has meant so much to me and has been the best trip of my life. So please, come visit and do the exchange program like I did!
Leaさん
"To start off I would like to thank all of the students and faculty at Seirei Christopher University who welcomed us and guided us on our journey of learning about the healthcare system in Japan. Thank you so much for your guidance and hospitality!
(1) I originally studied Human Physiology in my 4-year undergraduate degree. I knew I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare but was not sure what specific area I wanted to pursue. I initially thought I wanted to be a physical therapist, but after doing about 100 hours of observation I decided I wanted to go down a pathway that was more holistic in the sense that nursing treats the entire person rather than just a hip or a knee joint.
(2) The area of nursing that I am most interested in is critical care also known as ICU. This is the area that I did my senior preceptorship clinicals in. I very much enjoy critical care because I enjoy being very invested in the care of my patient and knowing all of the complexities of their critical condition. I like that it takes a high level of critical thinking and assessment skills to be an ICU nurse and enjoy interpreting telemetry.
(3) During our exchange trip at Seirei Christopher University, one of my favorite experiences was accompanying my home health nurse to visit one of her 95-year-old patients. The patient was so full of life and energy I would have thought she was about 75 years old if I hadn't known better. It was so wonderful to see an elderly patient receiving care in the comfort of their own home. Home visiting nursing is not as common here in the United States. The patient lived on a green tea farm with a factory on site to process the tea. We drank tea together and her grandson gave us a tour of the factory. Towards the end of our visit, I asked the patient what her secret was to a long happy life. She told me to eat well and to always enjoy the company of friends and family. I very much treasure this experience.
(4) During my stay in Japan, one of the things that surprised me the most was how friendly and helpful everyone was that we encountered. It was wonderful to be surrounded by a culture in which respect for others is highly valued. Another thing that surprised me was how clean everything is in Japan! In the United States, we have trash cans on nearly every street corner and in every room of every building but it is still very common to see trash on the ground which can be very upsetting.
(5) If you are ever to visit California I highly recommend doing some sightseeing in San Francisco. It is a beautiful city and has many famous sites to see such as the Golden Gate Bridge, the island of Alcatraz, and Pier 39. Another place that is one of my favorite spots is Lake Tahoe which is up in the Sierra Nevada mountains. In the wintertime there is snow and many people go snow skiing, and in the summer it is warm and people enjoy boating and sunbathing. Please come and visit if you ever have the opportunity!
(6) In my spare time, I love doing all sorts of outdoor activities! I love going hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, and biking. I also love to do yoga, meditate and dance. I am happy that I have finished nursing school because now I have more free time to do the things I love. While I was in my program I had very little free time and was too busy to do any exercise or activities. I'm sure many of you can relate!
(7) After our program 2 of my classmates and I extended our trip in Japan and visited Kyoto and Tokyo. I am so glad I had the opportunity to see more of Japan before returning home. In Kyoto, we stayed at a traditional Onsen and visited many of the temples and shrines in the city. My three favorite locations were the Kinkakuji temple, Ryozen Kannon temple, and the Fushimi Inari Shrine. In Tokyo, we went to the top of Tokyo tower, Skytree Tower and visited Takeshita street.
(8) My message to SCU students is that it is so wonderful that they are interested in pursuing a career in nursing. I believe it takes a very compassionate individual to enter into this field and it is so wonderful that we have had the opportunity to exchange ideas and perspectives cross-culturally. One thing that I have walked away from the experience having learned is that even though we may perceive variation between us, we are all so much more similar than we are different."
